Heel-seat-lasting machine.



R. P. MOFEELY. HEEL SEAT LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION P ILED JAN. 29,1914.

mgmaj Patented Mar. 2, 1 915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WVE/V'F R WT/VESZSES'.

R. F. MoFEELY. HEEL SEAT LASTING MACHINE.

' Lmmw.

APPLICATION FILE-D JAN. 29, 1914.

' Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SEEBT 2.

War/1 W- provements in Heel-Seat-Lasting "iii 1 a RONALD r. McFEJELY, orBE ERLY, assaonosnrrs, nssreuoa T0 UNITED snon aracnmnay compan orPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, a CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY. j

EEEL-SEA'I-LASTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 2, i915.

Application filed January as, 1914. swarm. 815,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RONALD F.- MCFEELY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain Im- Machines, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likereference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in theseveral figures.

This invention relates to machinery for use in the manufacture of shoesand is herein illustrated as embodied in apparatus for stretching shoeuppers and shaping shoe upper materials to lasts.

In my prior application for United States Letters Patent Serial No.512,904, filed August 14, 1909, for improvements in assembling andlasting machines, there is disclosed a last holder and an upper pullinggripper operatively connected therewith and arranged to engage theforepart of the upper and stretch the upper forwardly to tighten theupper materials around the rear part of the last and hold them for theoperation of a heel embracingfband, heel seatvlasting wipers and a heelseat tacking mechanism.

In the use of the machine it has been found that there is a tendency forthe front ends or wings f the heel stifiener to sag downwardly. Theupper end linings also do the same to a less extent in the shank portionof the shoe. This tendency renders It has heretofore been proposed topro-- vide an assembling and heel seat lasting machine with shankgrippers which would close upon the upper materials and pull them intoplace and hold them during the heel seat lasting operation. The use ofmanually operated grippers, however, decreases crating on a shoe andhaving a tendency to cause downward displacement of heel stiffenerwings, of means for preventing such displacement. Said means mayconveniently comprise opposed clamps-which will advantageously be selfadjusting to the shape and size of the shoe and will be constructed andarranged to force the upper materials, including the stifiener wings,against the sides of the last with sufficient pressure to prevent thewings from sliding down and which, during the heel seat lastingoperation, will hold the upper materials at or near their edges inapproximately the relation to the shank portion of the last which saidmaterials are to occupy in the finished shoe. I

The stiffener wing clamps, as they will be called for purposes ofdesignation, will conveniently be arranged to be operated at the will ofthe workman and they may be set against the shoe prior to the upperstretching operation with suflicient force to restrain the wings fromsagging down without objectionably interfering with the longitudinalstretching of the upper by the toe gripper, and said clamps maythereafter be set more firmly against the sides of the last. Theypreferably will not extend over the shoe bottom in a way to interferewith quick observation of the condition of the upper materials orreadjustment of them if, for example in a particular shoe, the

stifi'ener wings require to be pulled up after the upper stretchingoperation.

The machine of said prior application includes a toe endabutmentoperatively connected with the toe gripper and serving to holdthe last from forward and upward displacement while the upper is beingpulled forwardly by the gripper. Modern lasts'vary considerably inspring or angular relation of the plane of the bottom of the forepart tothe plane of the heel seat. For properly pulling and drafting the uperforwardly the toe gripper requires to Be adjusted, vertically inaccordance with the spring of the last and also, of course, the toe endabutment requires to be positioned in accordance with the verticallocation of the toe end of the last. In accordance with a furtherfeature of this invention provision is made'for vertically adjusting thetoe end abutment with relation to the last holding means. In theillustrated embodiment of the invention both the abutment and the toegripper are so adjusted. I have discoveredthat this adjustment mayadvantageously be made in a circular path and that the location of thecenter of the are under the heel seat of the last appears to give thebest results in adapting the gripper location to the spring of the last.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully fromthe following detailed description and will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion, partly in section, of aheel seat lasting machine equipped with a preferred embodiment of thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved assembling andtensioning mechanism of the invention; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionshowing the means for operating upon the shank portion of the shoe; andFig. 4 is a view showing structural details of several parts which willbe described.

The jack post is indicated at 4 and is resiliently upheld in atelescoping lower section 2 by a spring 6. Prior to the operation of themachine the post moves freely in the part 2 to permit the shoe to bebrought into the proper vertical position. After the ma chine starts,however, the post is connected with mechanism for producing a strongupward thrust to hold the shoe against the blow of the drivers, 'as isfully explained in the application above referredto. upper end of thepost 4 a heel pin 8 is pivoted and means is provided for holding the pinin a position inclined toward the rear as is shown in Fig. 1. A frame 12is mounted upon the post and a rack and pinion and suitable lockingmeans is provided for vertically adjusting and securing the frame uponthe post.

Arms 14 project laterally from the frame 12, Figs..2'and 3, andpivotally support levers 18 which carry at their upper ends stiifenerwing clamps 20. These are preferably formed as thin plates of springsteel which may be slightly convex on the side toward the shoe to fitmore perfectly the contour of the last.- The plates 20 are attachedto-studs In the 22 which are seated rotatively in sockets formed in theupper ends of the levers 18. The lower ends of the levers-are connectedby toggle members which comprise rods 24 and which pass freely throughblocks 26 pivoted to the lower ends of the levers 18, heads beingprovided upon the upper ends of the rods to prevent their drawingthrough the blocks 26.

The lower ends of the rods 24 and 25 are pivotally connected togetherand compression springs 28 are interposed between flanges formed on thelower ends of the rods and the blocks 26. Upon the pivot 30 of the lowerends of the rods 24 and 25 a handle 32 is mounted which is rigidlyconnected, as by pins 34, with the end of one of the rods 24 and 25, asfor example, the rod 25. The rod 25 and the handle 32 are thereforepractically a single lever with a fulcrum at the pivot of the block 26through which the rod 25 passes. When the handle 32 is lifted,therefore, the toggle formed by the rods 24 and 25 will be straightenedand the plates 20 will be forced against the stifiener wings to clampthem against the last. When the plates engage the shoe, the springs 28begin to yield and the force applied to the shoe is therefore determinedby the strength of these springs. When the toggle has been straightenedand the pivot 30 has passed beyond the center, the toggle will tend topress against the frame 12 and will remain locked in operative position.I

It will be observed that the plates 20 will automatically positionthemselves to apply equal pressure to the opposite sides of the shoe asthe levers 18 are free to swing about their pivots even after the plates20 have been brought into engagement with the shoe. Furthermore, thepressures exerted upon the two sides of the shoe at the shank againstthe ends of the heel stiffener will be equal whether or not the strengthof one of the springs 28 is the same as that of the other spring 28 forthe weaker spring will be compressed in the operation of straighteningthe toggle until its tension is equal to that of the stronger spring andthe same pressure will be exerted upon each side of the shoe. The plates20 also move on their pivot studs about vertical axes to bring theirengaging faces parallel with the side of the last against which theypress.

The frame 12 has a forward extension in which is formed a segmentalguideway 40 which is T-shaped in cross section and in maaaaa tudinallyof its axis to engage and disengage teeth at 48 formed respectively onthe thumb head and in a relatively stationary part secured to the member42. This construction provides a convenient means for adjusting the toerest vertically and locking means for holding the toe rest member 42 inadjusted position upon the segment 44. The curve of the segment ispreferably struck from a point beneath the heel seat of the last andthis center may be substantially coincident with the pivot of the lastpin so that the plane of the shoe bottom may be adjusted about a centerlocated substantially at the crown of the last. The toe rest carryingmember 42 is formed with a forward projection 50 in which is provided aT-slot 52 in which the toe rest bracket 54 is mounted to slide. On thebracket 54 a member 56 is mounted, the under face of the horizontalportion of which forms a rest against which the bottom of the forepartof the shoe is positioned and the rear face of the inclined portion 57of which is adapted to engage the toe portion of the last inside theupper and to hold the bottom of the last pressed against the horizontalportion. With the last mounted upon the last pin 8 and the toe portion.held between the surfaces 56 and '57 as described, the upper assembledupon the last is seized by the gripper 58, 59. To effect this the lever60 is first turned about its axis to free a holding catch from asegmental ratchet 62 and'is then raised to its upper limit which acts toopen the jaws 58 and 59 of the gripper so that the upper which liesbeneath the member 57 may be interposed between them. The lever 60 isthen depressed, the jaws 58 and 59 automatically closing and grippingthe upper, and further movement of the lever 60 serving to tension theupper longitudinally of the last. i

The wings of the heel stiflener may be clamped against the sides of thelast either before or after the tensioning of the upper longitudinallyby operation of the lever 32 to bring the presser plates 20 intooperative engagement with the shoe and if desired the clamp may bepartly closed before or during the tensioning operation and fully closedafterv the tensioning is completed. The bracket 54 is movable in theslot 52 to adjust the toe engaging members 56, 57 to any length of last.The member 54 is held from outward movement by a pawl which cooperateswith teeth 64 on the under face of the projection 50. This pawl isarranged to be automatically released by the upward movement of thelever 60 to open the gripper.

The post 2 is mounted for lateral swinging movement relatively to themachine by the construction shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of the post 2is cylindrically rounded, as shown, and seats in a correspondinglycurved step 68 formed in the member 70, Fig. 1. The post 2 is held inthe step 68 by a plate 72 having a projecting port on 74 formed toengage in a recess 76 in the lower end of the post 2, the plate 72 beingsecured to the member 70. A rod 78 engages the lower end of the part 4which telescopes with the part 2 and carries a collar80 between whichand the base of the post 2 is provided the spring 6 which issufficiently strong to sustain the weight of the jack mounted on thepart 4 but which permits the operator to depress the jack to bring theplane of the heel seat into the proper relationship to the operativeparts of the machine. The lower end of the rod 78 is jointed at 82 topermit relative lateral movement of the post 2 in the seat 68.

Having; described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is l. A; machine of the classdescribed having, in combination, means for supporting a shoe, meansoperating upon the shoe and having a tendency to cause the Wings or sagdownwardly along the sides of the last,

and means arranged for use prior to the.

operation of said last mentioned ,means and adapted for yieldinglyclamping the upper materials including said stiffener wings to the sidefaces of the'last to prevent such downward sagging.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, means operating upon the shoe and having a tendencyto cause the wings or front end portions of theheel stiffener to sagdownwardly along the sides of the last, and means arranged for use priorto the operation of said last mentioned means and self-adaptable to thesize and shape of the side faces of the last at the shank for clampingthe upper materials including the said stiffener Wings to the side facesof the last in the shank to prevent such downward sagging.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, and meansself-adaptable to the size and shape of theside faces of the last at the shank for clamping the upper materialsincluding the heel stiffener wings to the side facesv of the last in theshank to prevent downward sagging of the stiffener wings.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, means operating upon the shoe and in operating uponlasts of varying sizes.

3 intermediate the operating device and the 5. A machine of the classdescribed having, in combination, means for supporting a shoe, and meansto clamp the upper materials including the heel stiffener wings to theside faces of the last in the shank, said clamping means comprisinglevers carrying opposed clamping members, toggle mechanism connectingsaid levers, an operating device for the toggle mechanism, andcushioning means clamping devices arranged to permit the toggle to bestraightened into self-locking position in operating upon lasts-ofvarying SIZES.

' 6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, means operating upon the shoe and having a tendencyto cause the wings or front end portions of the heel stiffener to sagdownwardly along the sides of the last, and means arranged for use priorto the operation in. which such sagging occurs to clamp the uppermaterials including said stiffener Wings to the side faces of the lastat the shank, said means comprising levers, resilient clamping devicesarranged on the levers for self adaptation to varying shapes and sizesof shoes, and means for operating said levers to force the clampingdevices simultaneously into stiffener-wing holding positions.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, means operating upon the shoe and -having a tendencyto cause the ,wings or front end portions of the heel stiffener to sagdownwardly'along the sides of the last, and means to clamp the uppermaterials including the heel stiffener wings to the side faces of thelast in the shank, said means comprising levers, resilient clampingdevices arranged on the levers for self adaptation to varying shapes andsizes of shoes, and means for operating said levers to force theclamping devices simultaneously into stiflener wing holding positions.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting .sag downwardly along the sides of the last,'

and'means for yieldingly clamping the upper materials including saidstiffener wings to the side faces ofthe last to prevent such downwardsagging, and means for lasting the upper materials, including the edgeof the heel stiffener in the rear of the clamping means, inwardlyoverthe heel seat of the shoe and fastening them while the clamps holdthe stiffener wings.

9. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, a gripper connected with the shoe support andarranged for engaging the forepart of a shoe upper and straining theshoe v upper forwardly about the heel portion of the last, means forclamping the heel stiffener wings against the side, faces of the shankportion of the .last to hold saidwings in position for lasting the heelseat, and mechanisms for lasting and tacking the heel seat while saidgripper and clamps hold the shoe stock in position for lasting.

10. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, a gripper connected with the shoe support andarranged for engaging the forepart of a shoe upper and straining theshoe upper forwardly about the heel portion of the last, means forclamping the heel stiffener wings against the side faces of the shankportion of the last to hold said wings in position for lasting the heelseat, and mechanisms for lasting and tacking the heel seat, said shoesupport, together with the gripper and the stiffener wing clamps stillholding the upper materials, being movable together into the field ofoperation of the lasting and tacking mechanisms from a position remotefrom the lasting and tacking mechanisms where the shoe is accessible forinspection with relation to the shoe stock all around the heel seat.

- 11. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, asupport for a last, gripping devices constructed and arranged forgripping the toe of the upper, operatin means to actuate said grippingdevices an the last relatively for pulling the upper lengthwise of thelast and holding the upper with its marginal edge under lengthwisestrain to permit portions of the upper materials to be secured to aninnersole while the upper is under such strain, and means for clampingthe upper materials against the side faces of the last at the shank formaintaining the upper materials in the desired relation to the plane ofthe .heel seat for the securing operation.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forstressing the upper forwardly on a last and holding it under tension,automatic means for lasting the heel seat portion of the shoe while suchtension is maintained by the stressing means, and means arranged to beoperated for clamping the upper materials including the heel stifi'enerwings to the side faces of the shank portion of the last and maintainingthe stiffener wings at the desired elevation relative to the plane ofthe heel seat during the operation of the heel seat lasting means.

113. A machine of the czass described having, in combination, means forsupporting a stretch the upper lengthwise of the last,'and

an abutment'for engaging the toe end of the last to resist the forwardpull of the toe gripper, said abutment being adjustable relatively tothe shoe support in a vertical iLI'C to adapt it to the spring ofdifferent asts. Y a

v 14. A machine of the class described hav. ing, in combination, meansfor supporting a shoe, a gripper operatively connected with the shoesupport and arranged in position to engage the forepart of the shoeupper and stretch the upper lengthwise of the last, and an abutment forengaging the toe end of the last to resist the forward pull of the toegripper, said toe gripper and said abutment being adjustable together ina vertical are relatively to the last support about a center locatedunder the bottom face of the rear part of the last. Y

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, a gripper operatively connected with the shoe supportand arranged in position to engage the forepart of the shoe upper andstretch the upper lengthwise of the last, an abutment for enga ing thetoe end of the last to resist the orward pull of the toe gripper, saidabutment comprising a rigid' supporting arm and a plate pivotallyconnee-ted with the supporting arm for self adjustment to adapt itselfto the plane of the bottom face of the toes of lasts of different shapesand a hook on said plate to extend iiownwardly across the toe end faceof the ast.

16. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, means forsupporting a shoe, a gripper operatively connected with the shoe supportand arranged in position to engage the forepart of the shoe upper andstretch the upper lengthwise of the last, and an abutment for engagingthe toe end of the last to resist the forward pull of the toe gripper,said toe end abutment being shaped to engage the bottom face of the lastand to extend downwardly across the end face of the last and under thetoe end of the last.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a-supportfor the heel end of a shoe including'means for holdin the toe end of theshoe resiliently elevate means for engaging the bottom of the forepartof the shoe, and means for adjusting the forepart engaging means about acenter located substantially at the crown of the last.

18. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupportinga shoe including means for sustaining the rear part of a lastand yieldingly pressing the toe end of the last upwardly, a toe bottomabutment for determining the plane of the forepart of the last and meansconnecting said abutment with the heel sustaining means and permittingadjustment of the abutment in a vertical arcabout an axis located nearthe rear part sustaining means.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a last, overlaying and tacking means arranged relativelythereto for lasting the flange of the upper materials including the heelstiffener over the rear end of the heel seat and fastening saidmaterials to the shoe innersole, and means arranged to engage theopposite sides of the shoe in the shank prior "to such overlayingoperation for restraining the wings of the heel stiffener at each sideof the shoe from movement downwardly in response to the action of theoverlaying means on the stiffener flange at the rear end of the heel.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forsupporting a last, means acting to shape the upper materials includingthe heel stiffener to the vertical curvature of the heel end face of thelast adjacent to the heel seat, and means adapted to become operative inadvance of said shaping means for restraining the wings of thestifi'ener from'moving downwardly in response to the action of theshaping means upon the stiffener at the rear end of the heel.

stiffener wings against the sides of the last and restraining them frommoving downwardly in response to the shaping action on the stifi'ener atthe rear end of the heel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' RONALD F. MoFEELY.

Witnesses:

Cnnsrmz E. Rooms, EDNA A. i on COETGCt-iOfl in Letters Patent No.1,129,883.. m

- for an improvement in Heel-Seat-Lasting Machines,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,129,883, grantedMarch 2,

1915, upon the application of Ronald F. McFee1y, of Beverly,Massachusetts,

an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 1, line 32, for the word end read and; and that the saidLetters Patent should-be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. i

Signed and sealed this 7th day of September, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

